Sunday, June 22, 2014

Ascending by Conrad Tuerk

Watching the World Cup has
transported me back to Brazil,
where my wife and I visited last April.
What we saw was spectacular. “God is Brazilian,”
the natives proclaim, and at times their hyperbole seemed justified.

In Rio de Janeiro I
woke early and wandered the streets of Santa Teresa, a charming, colonial neighborhood high on a hillside overlooking the city. It made for ideal exploration. I could follow the steep streets down to the
city, descending by stairs in spots, or climb into the lush rain forest along
winding roads. No matter the route, the views were stunning. Through broken clouds, I caught glimpses of
Christ the Redeemer, atop Corcovado, his outstretched arms reaching to embrace the city.

But many in Rio
clamored for survival. Each morning I encountered scenes of human deprivation, both heroic and
dispiriting. The city’s squalor stood in
stark contrast to her natural beauty. Rio’s
slums, known as favelas, clung to steep hillsides. They were never far from view. In an intimate square, in the heart of
Santa Teresa, a family slept on boxes under a wooden cart. Flies swarmed the barefoot children. Their condition disturbed me. How can life be so unjust?

As always answers proved elusive. The more I pondered, the more befuddled I became.